The future of environmentally friendly transportation likely centers on electric vehicles, but the path forward isn’t entirely defined. Porsche is investigating synthetic fuels as a viable option alongside other approaches. These alternative fuels, known as eFuels, are created using carbon dioxide and hydrogen. When manufactured with renewable energy sources, they offer a means to make vehicles with internal combustion engines (ICE) more sustainable throughout their operational lifespan.

Porsche AG’s Detlev von Platen recently discussed this alternative fuel source at TechCrunch Sessions: Mobility earlier this week.

Examining Porsche’s present vehicle offerings reveals the direction the company is taking: electric sports cars. Currently, in 2020, the manufacturer features one electric sports sedan, with an electric version of its compact SUV anticipated soon. A selection of plug-in hybrid models are also available. Porsche anticipates that 50% of its vehicles will be electric by 2025.

“We are observing an increasing number of new regulations being implemented globally,” stated Detlev von Platen, a member of the Executive Board responsible for Sales and Marketing, during TC Sessions: Mobility 2020. “California serves as one example. Europe and China are projected to become even more complex in the future, and we are witnessing a rapid transformation. At a certain point, the development and production of combustion engines and vehicles utilizing this technology will become more costly than electric battery vehicles. Progress is happening quickly.”

Governments around the world are employing stringent regulations to encourage automakers to transition towards electric vehicles, however, this doesn’t address the substantial number of gasoline-powered vehicles already in use.

Von Platen explained that Porsche aims to surpass the commitments outlined in the Paris Climate Accord. Achieving this requires minimizing the environmental impact of the entire automotive industry, and Porsche views eFuels as a way to lessen the environmental footprint of both existing and future vehicles with internal combustion engines. Utilizing renewable energy in their production would allow ICE vehicles to operate on a renewable fuel source.

Porsche occupies a distinctive position in the market: 70% of the vehicles the company has ever manufactured are still actively driven. These owners typically exhibit strong brand loyalty and are unlikely to replace their classic, air-cooled Porsche models with electric vehicles. The company believes eFuel provides a solution for reducing the environmental impact of these vehicles while allowing them to remain on the road.

This innovative fuel type is produced from hydrogen and CO2. Porsche indicates that, at its core, this fuel shares characteristics with kerosene, diesel, and gasoline derived from crude oil.

“This technology is especially significant because the combustion engine is expected to remain a dominant force in the automotive sector for years to come,” explained Michael Steiner, member of the Executive Board, Research and Development, in a statement released in September. “If the goal is to operate the current vehicle fleet in a sustainable manner, eFuels are a crucial element.”

Synthetic fuels have been explored previously but did not achieve widespread, lasting adoption. Porsche intends to influence the specifications of this new generation of synthetic fuels to guarantee compatibility with its high-performance engines. “The introduction of E10 presented certain drawbacks. This time must be different; it must offer advantages,” Steiner said.

“We have initiated a pilot program to discuss the industrial-scale production of this fuel technology to lower its cost, as it currently remains relatively expensive compared to conventional fossil fuels,” von Platen said. “If successful, this could provide a means to accelerate sustainability efforts in addition to battery technology.”

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